4 Health Risks Your Old Furnace Can Expose You To

Feb 07, 2018

The health and wellbeing of your loved ones is one of your greatest concerns. When a home service provider is working in your home, it’s their main concern as well. When performing a job in your house, they do the work to the best of their ability for you to be safe and comfortable when they leave. Unfortunately, no service provider can see the future and guarantee that your furnace will keep working properly. A broken heating system can put you and your loved ones at risk, so a home service provider relies on you to notice the warning sigs and make a call before things get back.

Here are a few ways that a furnace in need of replacing can affect your health:

Stress

Our lives are stressful enough, we shouldn’t have to worry when were in our homes. Our houses should be a comfortable place to unwind, relax, and spend time with loved ones. It’s hard to stay calm when your electric bills suddenly skyrocket out of nowhere! When you’re paying more than you typically do, it could be because your furnace isn’t working properly. Rather than waiting around and wasting money, you should call a professional to assess the situation.

Respiratory Issues

if your furnace is outdated or broken, it can negatively affect the air quality in your home. Dust, mold, and other pathogens can be pumped through your vents, leading to breathing difficulties. If you notice any worsening of asthma symptoms, or an increase in other chest related illnesses, you should have your furnace fixed as soon as possible.

Fire Hazard

Your furnace should only have the scent of fresh gas or oil when you turn it on for the first time of the season. If it lingers after a few consecutive uses, then something isn’t right. You should contact a specialist right away to diagnose the problem, as these smells could be much more serious than you think. Oil and gas are highly flammable, and if they’re left to leak from your furnace it puts you at risk.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

You should monitor the pilot of your furnace frequently – the color is extremely important. The flame should always be blue! A blue pilot light means that the gases working inside are helping each other and staying balanced. If you ever notice that it has turned yellow, this is an emergency. A yellow pilot light means the balance has been thrown off and carbon monoxide is leaking into your home. carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous, and exposure can cause serious injury or death.